Foldable, adjustable, and mailable advertising display



March 10, 1953 c. A. STEPHENS FOLDABLE, ADJUSTABLE, AND MAILABLE ADVERTISING DISPLAY- Filed Jan. 9. 1952 2 SHEETS SHEET l INVENTOR. Charles A. Stephens March 10, 1953 6; STEPHENS 2,631,046

FOLDABLE, ADJUSTABLE, AND MAILABLE ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Jan. 9, 1952 2 SHEE'JIS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.- v Oho'rl e s A. Stephens Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE, ADJUSTABLE, AND MAILABLE ADVERTISING DISPLAY 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to advertising displays, especially a type that is foldably adjustable and compactly foldable for mailing purposes; the instant application being a continuation in part of my co-pending patent application designated Serial Number 194,637 filed November 8, 1950, now abandoned.

An important object of my invention is to provide an advertisin display of the aforementioned character which may be opened or unfolded to provide an area of approximately twenty square feet of dominating display, and which is foldable to a compact size of approximately 24 inches by 32 inches to bring it within the shipping weight of three pounds, so that the same may be conveniently mailed under parcel post rates.

Another object of my invention is to provide an advertising display consisting of a central panel and two side or end panels which may be articulately motivated to various positions of substantially 360 degrees with respect to the said central panel. The said central panel may also be folded at its center so that the entire arrangement may be compactly folded to a size identical with the size of any one of the said side or end panels.

A further object of my invention is to provide an advertising display of the aforementioned character which is adjustably positionable so that it may be accommodated by various sizes of windows.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an advertising display of the aforementioned character which may be positioned in open formation or arrangement on ledges, shelving,

counters, and on the top of wall brackets and, in fact, on any support that is large enough, falling within the range of sizes of foldable arrangement that the display lends itself to, in order to accommodate the same.

A further important object of my invention is to provide foldable and adjustable window advertising display means in which advertising matter may be imprinted upon the central and side panels in individual units so as to be legible either as one continuous advertising surface or as individual panel units carrying advertising matter that may be viewed from different angles.

Another important object of my invention is to provide foldable and adjustable advertising display means having a multiple number of panels hingeably attached so that the .same may be positioned in various formation, the side or end panels thereof having the further important function of supporting the said display means in various positions.

A still further object of my invention is to provide foldable, adjustable and compactly folda-ble Window advertisin display means, on which advertising matter may be imprinted on the various panel surfaces thereof, and which may be easily and inexpensively produced in large quantities by usual production methods.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an advertising display of the aforementioned character having reinforcing covering or 'selvage for the free edges of the panels thereof extending transversely to the weakened portions to strengthen the said edges and prevent wear and tear.

Other objects and advantages inherent in my invention will be disclosed in the following de scription, and in the accompanying illustrations in which like parts are designated by like numerals, and in which:

Fig. l is a top view of my invention showing the various positions to which the individual panels may be 'adjustably positioned.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention showing in dotted lines the radial movement or positions of the end panels to provide a support for the advertising display.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the central panel and one side panel in continuous arrangement with the remaining side panel folded rearwardly in order to support the display.

Fig. 4 shows the front panel supported by the positioning of the end panels rearwardly thereof and angularly with respect thereto.

Fig. 5 shows the support of the advertising display in a Z formation.

.Fig. 6 shows the positioning of the central panel and an end panel in continuous formation, whereas the remaining end panel is shown angularly positioned forwardly thereof for supporting the advertising display.

Fig. '7 is a view showing the central panel also folded on a central seam in order to provide a support for the advertising display Where space would be more limited than the space that would be required to accommodate the display set-up, as in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a top view of all four panels comprising my invention in fiat or extended position, as it is actually manufactured.

Fig. 9 is afront view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows the first step toward compactly folding thedisplay for mailing purposes.

Fig. 11 shows the second folding operation for compactly foldin the display for mailing purposes.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the folded display properly sealed and closed by sealing means and ready for mailing.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing that the display may also be positioned in windows which may be partially cylindrical so that the advertising may be viewed through such windows, and also where it is indicated that the display lends itself to considerable manipulation and adjustment to make it fit various sizes and shapes of windows when used as a window display, or for the various sizes and areas of support.

Fig. 13a is a rear View of Fig. 13 showing the reinforcing covering resulting when the display is cut open ready for use subsequently to its mailing.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that my invention is, generally, designated I 4, consisting of a central rectangular panel which is subdivided into subdivision panels I 6, and is provided with a weakened portion l9 to permit folding centrally of the said central panel so as to result in panel subdivisions [6. Weakened portions l8 are provided in order to permit end panels I! to be rotated as indicated by arrows and 2| substantially within a radius of 360 degrees with respect to the positioning of the features that are desired to be indicated on the said panels. The various arrangements permissible by the various positions of the end panels l7, and also by bending the central panel 5 at its hinged or weakened portion l9, permits a universal arrangement of a large display to fit almost any great range of dimensions; said advertising display may be thus accommodated in various widths, depths and areas, as will be in dicated in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, '7 and 13.

In Figure 3 the arrangement indicates that two panels may be arranged in continuous formation, namely, the central panel l5 and one end panel l1, whereas the other remaining end panel I! is folded rearwardly to provide a support for the advertising display to remain erect.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 with the exception that both end panels H are motivated rearwardly in angular formation, as indicated, in order to provide a support for the advertising display.

In Figure 5 the central panel 15 is supported by the Z formation indicated, wherein the one end panel I! is positioned rearwardly of the central panel, and the other end panel being positioned forwardly of the said central panel.

Figure 6 indicates a display arrangement wherein the central panel and one end panel are in continuous formation, and the other end panel is positioned forwardly above the central panel to provide a support.

In Figure 7 the end panels [1 and the central panel 15 are folded in order to indicate an arrangement whereby three dihedral angles are included in the perimetral formation of the advertising unit; likewise, in Figure 13 the unit or display may be positioned whereby the dihedral angles are formed rearwardly of the display or advertising surface 22.

A most important feature of my invention is that a rather large display may be folded so compactly that it comes within the accepted range of sizes for mailing, and is compact enough to permit the same to be mailed, so that when the recipient breaks the seal and opens the display, it is ready for use. This feature of my invention is best illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, l1 and 12.

In Figure 8 the advertising display is shown laid out flat on a support, whereby the weakened portions thereof may be folded so that in the first operation the end panels I! are folded rearwardly as shown in Figure 10; whereas the subdivision panels l6 are also folded at I9 as a second operation, in the compact folding to produce a mailing piece, as indicated in Figure 11.

The entire unit as shown in Figure 12 is provided with seals on three edges with sealing tape 23, which may be tape of an adhesive type irremovably attached, or may be a Scotch tape so that the same can easily be removed by the recipient. The entire folded advertising compact thus may be addressed on the rear of one of the panels or subdivision panels it and actually mailed under parcel post rates.

After the display is received through the mails, it may be opened by using a cutting instrument, such as a razor blade 28; cutting along lines 21 on laterals 2t and 26 of the sealing tape 23 which represents a tri-lateral formation 24, 25 and 28, after which the display may be opened or unfolded ready to be set up.

It should be noted that the slitting operations heretofore mentioned result in selvage edges or reinforcing covering for all the top edges and all the bottom edges of the several panels, the bottom edges thus being reinforced to prevent wear of the supporting edges of the display, to prevent fraying of the said edges as well. Thus the central panels it have reinforcing covering 30, the end panels I! have reinforcing covering 3|, the remaining portions of sealing tape 23 forming reinforcement across the back surface and adjacent the top and bottom edges of the central panels [5, as well as reinforcement 32 along the rear of the weakened portions [8.

A most important advantage of my invention resides in its adaptability to any size or shape of display space, such as a store window, large or small, a shelf or counter where goods are displayed on a pedestal, and yet adapted to such a varied range of sizes or spaces for presenting advertising display as to consider the display of almost universal adjustability.

A further important advantage of my invention is indicated in the various views, in which it will be noted that the display means is rendered selfsupporting, in all of its various adaptable positions, by virtue of the angular relationship between the central and end panels thereon; the display means being reinforced at its top and bottom edges to prevent fraying and wear resulting from use.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An advertising display and mailing compact comprising, a cardboard body subdivided into a rectangular central panel, two side panels articulately secured to opposed parallel edges of the said central panel to form support for the said advertising display Susceptible of accommodating the same in confines of variable areas, the textual matter thereon being visible to an observer from several points of observation, the said advertising display capable of having the said side panels positionable independently of one another in substantially 360 angular relationship with respect to the said central panel, the said central panel being provided with a pair of weakened portions running transversely thereof resulting in two subdivision =panels, the said side panels and the said subdivision panels being similar and of substantially the same area, the said subdivision panels and the said side panels being foldable in congruent relationship by folding the said side panels inwardly to form outer folded portions and ultimately folding on the said pair of weakened portions thus bringing the said outer folded portions into intimate contact to conform to a mailing compact, and sealing tape adhered to and securing the exposed edges of all panel and the said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,802,553 Dyment Apr. 28, 1931 20 2,114,130 Brate Apr. 12, 1938 2,304,385 Sussman Dec. 8, 1942 

